India @ Asiad since 1951

Here’s how India had been a powerhouse at the quadrennial event since its inception

Since the inception of Asian Games in 1951, India had been a powerhouse at the event. It has not just participated in all editions of the quadrennial event but has also played a key role in its establishment. It has even hosted the inaugural edition in New Delhi.

In 1951, India won 51 medals – 15 gold, 16 silver and 20 bronze – at the Asian Games 1951 to finish second. Japan with 60 medals ruled the Asiad that year. It was India’s best finish at the continental Games.

Swimmer Sachin Nag, who bagged gold in the 100m freestyle event at New Delhi 1951, became India’s first gold medallist at the Asian Games. In the same year, Roshan Mistry became the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games medal as she took silver in the 100m sprint at the Asian Games.

Since then, India have won 779 medals at the Asian Games, including 183 golds, 239 silvers and 357 bronze. Having managed to clinch gold at every edition of Asian Games, India is the fifth-most successful country at the games.

Fabulous on field

Indian track and field stars have led from the front. They have bagged 283 medals in 19 appearances. Sprint legend Milkha Singh won the 200m and 400m gold at the 1958 Asian Games and followed it up with two more golds (400m and 4 x 400m relay) at the 1962 edition in Jakarta.

Then, PT Usha continued the trend. She set the track ablaze at the 1986 Asian Games, winning four of the five gold medals India won that year and a silver.

A three-time Olympian, she broke the Asian Games record in four events (200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4 x 400m relay) at the Seoul 1986 Games.

She ended her career as the most successful Indian athlete at the Asian Games, with 11 medals. 2018 was also significant for India as Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win gold at javelin throw and Dutee Chand brought home India’s first gold in women’s 100m since PT Usha’s silver in 1982.

India’s best medal tally came at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China. India won a record 107 medals, surpassing their previous-best haul of 70 from Jakarta 2018. Unsurprisingly, athletics was the most successful sport, accounting for 29 medals.